Labels on Wiring in the Panel

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Originally Posted by dbush

Paul, the only reason I think it might be nice to have them still in is, if for instance, the buyer of a new construction home labels the ledger instead of the electrician, and it gets labeled with the following: "Misty's Bedroom, Joe's Bathroom, Gym", etc; instead of SW Bedroom, Hallway Bathroom and Office. Of course, I see that in quite a few houses anyway. I usually recommend they test what a breaker belongs to with the very expensive method of purchasing a portable radio. Turn the radio up and throw breakers until the radio goes out. Beats buying a breaker locator. Any other ideas?

If it is a NEW home the buyer CAN'T label the panel IF an electrician wired it, the NEC states the panel must be labeled before it can pass final inspection and to be honest with you homeowners in general should not be venturing into their panels for the most part.

It is also a violation to label the panel in generics, in other words you have to be specific on the breakers label...can't say "lights" it must say "Bedroom lights" for example....IF the AHJ is doing their job properly.

Now I have a locator....cost only about 35 bucks....but not needed IF the panel is labeled like it should be in NEW construction.....not older construction.....

AND...for those that say...what if the homeowner wired the house....well if they are BRIGHT enough to use sleeves to identify the wires....we can assume they are smart enough to label a ledger properly to pass final inspection so the sleeves would be a moot issue.

[dbush]

Paul, you have to understand in a lot of the areas I work, we don't have an AHJ. Three of the towns I work in have city inspectors, counties have no building codes, etc.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Originally Posted by dbush

Paul, you have to understand in a lot of the areas I work, we don't have an AHJ. Three of the towns I work in have city inspectors, counties have no building codes, etc.

OH yeah I understand......frightens me to DEATH just thinking about it...

But we have to assume if they are SMART enough to use the labels using ROMEX...they are bright enough to label the panel...don't you agree..

[dbush]

I agree with that. IF they were done by a qualified electrician, which most new constructions are, they are done correctly. It is the older homes that we have most of the problems with the labeling on.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Yep.....and as the original question was stated....I am talking about NEW construction and was refering more so to the statement about a home of NEW Construction and how they should be labelled.

IN old homes......we label circuits we alter or add and as I believe Marc stated in another post....we try to label the obvious as well....